Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
ClirisCs Kingdom slicdl Strengthen. ISAIAH XIX. Prophecy as to Egypt.
days, place ot the name—where Jehovah peculiarly manifests His glory. Acts 2. 10 and 8. 27 show how worshippers came up to Jerusalem from " Egypt " and " Ethiopia." Frnmentins, an Egyptian, in the4tii century, converted Abyssinia to Christianity ; and a Christian church'^ under an abuna or bishop, still flourishes there. The full accomplishment is probably still future.
meting out."—an all-destroying people;" which suits the (context better than " meted," passively. [Maurer.] IIORSI.EY, understanding it of the Jews, translates it, "Expecting, expecting (in a continual attitude of expectation of Messiali) and trampled under foot:" a graphic picture of ttiem. Most translate, of strength, strength (from a root, to brace tlie sinews), /. e., a most powerful people, trodden down—true of the Jews. But Matjrek translates it actively, a people treading under foot all its enemies, t. e., victorious (ch. it. 25), viz., the Ethiopians, spoiled—" cut up." The Nile is formed by the Junction of many streams in Abyssinia, tlie Atbara, the Astapus or Blue river (between
CHAPTER XIX.
Ver. lr-25. Chaps. 19. and 20. are connected, but with an interval between. Egypt had been held by an Ethiopian dynasty, Sabacho, Seveclius, or Sabacho II., and Tirhakah, for forty or fifty years. Sevechus (called iS'o, the ally of Hoshea, 2 Kings 17. 4) retired from Lower Egypt on account of the resistance of the priests; and perhaps also, as the Assyrians threatened Lower Egypt. On his withdrawal, Sethos, one of the priestly caste, became supreme, having Tanis ("Zoan") or else Memphis as his capital, 718 wliicli two rivers Meroe, tlie " Ethiopia " here meant, lies), and the Astaboras or White river; these streams wash down the soil along their banks in the "land" of Upper
Egypt, and deposit it on that of Lower Egypt. G. V. Smith translates it, "Divide." Horsley takes itfig. of the conquering armies \y\i\c\\ have often "spoiled " Judea. 3. see ye . . . hear ye—rather, ye shall see—shall hear. Call to the whole earth to be witnesses of what Jehovah (" He ")
B. c. ; whilst the Ethiopians retained Upper Egypt, with Thebes as its capital, under Tirhakah. A third native dynasty was at Sais, In the west of Lower Egypt; to this at a later period belonged Psammetichus, the first who admitted GreelvS into Egypt and its armies; he was one is about to do. He will "lift up an ensign," calling the Assyrian motley hosts together (ch. 5. 26) on "the mountains" round Jerusalem to their own destruction. This
(ch. 18.) declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is announced in ch. 17. 12, 13. The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid (ch.36.
of the dodecarchy, a number of petty kincs between whom Egypt was divided, and by aid of foreign auxiliaries overcame the rest, 670 B. c. To the divisions at this last time, Gesenius refers v. 2; and to Psammetichus, v. 4, "a cruel lord." The dissensions of the ruling castes are certainly referred to. But the time referred to is much earlier than that of Psammetichus. In v. 1, the invasion of Egypt is represented as caused by "the Lord;" and in v. 17, " Judah" is spoken of as "a terror to Egypt," which it could hardly have been by itself. Probably, therefore, the Assyrian invasion of Egypt under Sargon, when .Tudah was the ally of Assyria, and Hezekian had not yet refused tribute as he did in the tjeginning of Sennacherib's reign,
6; 37. 9). Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the common enemy, 713 b. c. See notes on ch. 22., where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to Ethiopia is observable. HorsLEY takes the " ensign " to be the cross, and the " trumpet the Gospel trumpet, whicli shall be sounded more loudly in the last days. 4. take . . . rest . . . consider—I will calmly look on and not interpose, whilst all seems to promise success to the enemy ; when fig., " the sun's heat " and "the night dews" ripen their "harvest;" but "before" is meant. That Assyria was in Isaiah's mind appears from the way in wliich it is joined with Israel and Egypt in the worship of Jehovah (r. 24, 25). Tlius the dissensions referred to (v. 2) allude to the time of the withdrawal of the Ethiopians from Lower Egypt, probably not without a struggle, especially with the priestly caste; also to the time wlien Sethos usurped the throne, and entered on tlie contest with the military caste, by tlie aid of the town populations: when the Saltic dynasty was another cause of division. Sargon's reign was between 722-715 B. c, answering to 718 B. c, when Sethos usurped his tlirone. [G. V. Smith.] 1. burden {Note, ch. 13. 1.) upon . . . cloud —(Psalm 104.3; 18.10.) come into Egypt—to inflict vengeance. " Egypt," in Hebretv, Misraim, plural form, to express the two regions of Egypt. Bdnsen observes. The it reaches its maturity I will destroy it (v. 5; Ecclesiastes
8. 11, 12). lilie a elear heat—rather, "at the time of the clear (serene) heat." [Maurer.] upon herbs—answering to "harvest" in the parallel clause. Maurer trans-
Jate», "in the sun-light" (Job 31.26; 37.21; Habakkuk 3.
4). lilse . . . dew—rather, " at the time of the dew-cloud "
God's "silence" is mistaken by the ungodly for consent; His delay in taking vengeance for forgetfulness (Psalm
50.21); so it shall be before the vengeance which in the last day shall usher in the restoration of the Jews (ch. 34. 1-
8; 57. 11, end of the verse ; 2 Peter 3. 3-10). 5. For—rather, liut. perfect—perfected. When the enemy's plans are on the verge of completion, sour grape . . . flower—rather, "wlien the flower shall become the ripening grape." [Mauber.] sprigs—the shoots with the grapes on them. God will not only disconcert their present plans, but prevent tliem forming any future ones. Horsley takes the "harvest" and vintage here as referring to purifying judgments which cause the excision of the ungodly from the earth, and the placing of the faitliful in a state of peace on the earth: not tlie last judgment (Jolin 15. 2; Revelation It. 15-20). 6. birds . . . beasts—transition from the image "sprigs," " branches," to the tiling meant : the Assyrian soldiers and leaders shall be the prey of birds title of their kings runs thus: "Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt." idols—the bull, crocodile, &c. The idols poetically are said to be " moved" with fear at the presence of one raiglitier than even they were supposed to be (Exodus
12.12; Jeremiah 43. 12). 2. set—stir up. Gbnesius translates, "arm." Egypt against Egypt — Lower against Upper: and Saitic against both. (See ch. 3. 10.) Newton refers it to tlie civil wars between Apries and Amasis at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion; also between Tachos, Nectanebus, and tlie Mendesians, just before Ochus subdued Egypt, kingdom against kingdom—The LXX. have "nome against nome;'' Egypt was divided Into forty-two names or districts. 3. spirit wisdcmi, for which Egypt was famed (ch. 31. 2; 1 Kings 4. 30; Acts 7. 22); answering to " counsel" in tlie parallel clause, tail—lit., be poured out, t. e., be made void (Jeremiah 19.7). They shall "seek" help from sources that can alford none, "cliarmers," &c. (cli. 8. 19). charmers lit., those making a faint sound: the soothsayers imitated the faint sound which was attributed to the spirits of the dead {Note, oh.
and l)easts, the whole year through, "winter" and "sumiHi«r," so numerous shall be their carcasses. Horsley iranslates the Hebrew which is singular: "upon it," not "upon tlicm:" the " It " refers to God's " dwelling-place
(v. 4) in the Holy Land, which Antichrist ("the bird of prey" with the "beasts," his rebel hosts) is to possess himself of, and wherelie is to perish. 7. present . . . peoiplc -sciittered and peeled—For the right rendering, see note on i'. 2. The repetition of epithets enhances the honour paid to Jehovah by so mighty a nation. Tlie Ethiopians, wonder-struck at such an interposition of Jeliovah
8.19). 4. cruel lord—Sargon, in Hebrew it is lords; plural is often used to express greatness, where erne aloM
In belialf of His people, shall send gifts to Jerusalem in His honour (ch. 16. 1 ; Psalm 68. 31 ; 72. 10). Thus translate, " a present—/roOT a people." Or translate, as English VerHon, "tlie present" will mean "the people" of Etliiopia converted to God (Romans 15. 16). Horsley takes the people converted to Jehovah, as the Jews in the latter
Is meant (Genesis 39. 2). The parallel word "king" (.tingiilar) proves it. Newton makes the general reference to be to Nebuchadnezzar, and a particular reference to Cambyses, son of Cyrus (who killed the Egyptian god, Apis), and
Prophecy as to Egypt. ISAIAH XIX. Her Culling to the Cliurck, plans 3. 5). "Pharaoh" was the common name of all tha kings: Sethos, probably, is here meant. l!4. let them know—t. e., How Is it tliat, with all their boast of knowing tlie future (Diodorus, 1. 81), they do not know what Jehovah of hosts, &c. 13. Noph—called also Moph ; Greek,
Ochus, Persian conquerors of Egypt, noted for their " fierce cruelty." Gesenius refers it to Psammetichus, who had brought into Egypt Greel£ and other foreign mercenaries to subdue the other eleven princes of the dodecarchy. 5. the sea—ZM? Nile. Physical calamities, it is observed in his-
Jl/ewyj/tis (Hosea 9. 6) ; on the western banlc of the Nile, capital of Lower Egypt, second only to Thebes in all Egypt: residence of tlie kings, until tlie Ptolemies removed to Alexandria ; the word means the port of the tory, often accompany political convulsions (Ezekiel 30. 12). Tlie Nile shall" fail" to rise to its wonted height, the result of which will be barrenness and famine. Its " waters" ai the time of tiie overflow resemble "a sea" (Pliny, H. N., g-ood (Plutarch). The military caste probably ruled in it: "they also are deceived," in fancying their country secure from Assyrian invasion, stay of . . . tribes—rather, "corner-stone of her castes" [Maurer], i. e., the princes, the two ruling castes, the priests and the warriors: image from a building which rests mainly on its cornerstones (ti. 10, iVote .• ch.28.16; P.salm 118. 22; Numiier.s 21. 17; Margin; Judges 20. 2; 1 Samuel 14. HS, Margin ; Zochariah te. U); and it is still called El-Bahr, "the sea," by the Egyptians (ch. 18.2; Jeremiah 51. 36). A public record is kept at Cairo of tlie daily rise of the water at the proper time of overflow, viz., August: if it rise to a less height than twelve cubits, it will not overflow the land, and famine must be the result. So, also, when it rises higher than sixteen; for tlie waters are not drained ofT in time Bufflcient to sow tlie seed. 6. they shall turn the rivers —rather, "the streams shall become putrid;" i. e., the ar-
10. J). 14:. err In every work thereof—referring to the anarchy arising from their internal feuds. Horsley tificial streams made for irrigation shall become stagnant and of Tensive when the waters fail. [Madreb.] Hoksley, with LXX., translates, "And waters from the sea sliall be drunk:" by the failure of the river-water they shall be reduced to sea-water, brooks of defence—rather, "canals of Egypt:'' canals, lit,, "Niles," Nile canals, the plural of the Egyptian term for the great river. The same Hebrew word, Mntzor, whence comes Mitzraim, expresses Egypt, and a place of " defence." Horsley, as English Version translates it, "embanked canals." reeds . . . flags—the papyrus. "Reed and rush:" utter withering. 7. paper reeds— rather, pastures, lit., places naked of wood, and famed for rich herbage, on the banks of the Nile. (Gesenius.] Cf. Genesis 13. 10; Deuteronomy 11. 10. Horsley translates, "with respect to all His (God's) works ;" they misinterpreted God's dealings at every step. "Mingled" contains the same image as "drunken:" as one mixes spices with wine to make it intoxicating (ch. 5. 22; Proverljs 9. 2, 5), so Jehovah has poured among them a spirit of giddiness, so that they are as helpless as a "drunken man." 15. work for Egypt—nothing wliicii Egypt can do to extricate itself from the difficulty, head or tailhigh or low (v. 11-15, and 8-10). braneli or msh—the lofty palm branch or the humble reed (ch. 9. 14, 15; 10. 33, 34). 16. like . . . women—timid and lielpless (Jeremiah 51.
30; Nahum 3. 13). shaking of . . . hand—his judgments by means of the invaders (ch. 10. 5, 32; 11. 15). 17. Judah. . . terror unto Egypt—not by itself: but at tliis time Hezekiah was the active suliordinate ally of Assyria In translates, "Nakedness upon the river," descriptive of the appearance of a river when its bottom is bare, and its banks stripped of verdure by long drought: so Vulgate. the brooks—Wie river, month—rather, the source. [Vulgate.] " Even close to the river's side vegetation shall be so withered as to be scattered in the shape of powder by the wind" {English Version, "driven away"). [Horsley.] 8. fishers—Tlie Nile was famed for flsh (Numbers 11.5); numbers would be thrown out of employment by the failure of fishes, angle a hook. Used in the " brooks" or canals, as the " net" was in " the waters" of the river Itself. 9. fine flax—Gesenius, for "fine," translates, "combed:" fine linen was worn by the rich only (Luke 16. 19). Egypt was famous for it (Exodus 9. 31; 1 Kings 10.28; Proverbs 7. 16; Ezekiel 27. 7). The processes of its manufacture are represented on the Egyptian tombs. Israel learned the art iu Egypt (Exodus 26. :^6). The cloth now found on the mummies was linen, as is shown by the microscope. Wilkinson mentions linen from Egypt which has 5i0 (or 270 double) threads in one inch in the warp; whereas some modern cambric has but 160. [Barnes.] networks rather, white cloth (Esther 1. 6; 8. 16). 10. In the purposes rather, thefoundations, i. e., "the nobles shall be broken" or brought low: soch. 3. 1; Psalm 11.3; cf. v. l.S, " The princes —the stay of the tribes." The Arabs call a prince "a, pillar of the people." [Maurer.] " Their weaving-frames.''' [Horsley.] " Dykes." [Barnes.] all that make slntces, Ac.—" makers of dams," made to confine the waters which overflow from the Nile in artificial fish-ponds. [Horsley.] "Makers of gain," <. e., the common people who have to earn their livelihood, as opposed to the " nobles" previou.sly. [Maurer.] 11. Zoan—The Greeks called it Tanis, a city of Lower Egypt, east of the Tanitic arm of the Nile, now fSan; it was one of the nearest Egyptian towns to Palestine (Numbers 13. 22), the scene of Moses' miracles (Psalm 78. 12, 43). It, or else Memphis, was the capital under Sethos. lam . . . son of the wise . . . kings—Ye have no advice to suggest to Pharaoh in the crisis, notwithstanding that ye boast of descent from wise and royal ancestors. The priests were the usual "counsellors" of the Egyptian king. He was generally chosen from the priestly caste, or, if from the warrior caste, he was admitted into the sacred order, and was called a priest. The priests are, therefore, meant, by the expression, "son of the wise, and of ancient kings:" this was their favourite boast (Herodotus, 2. 141 ; cf. Amos 7. 14 ; Acts 23. 6 ; Philipits invasion of Egypt under Sargon. Similarly to tlie alliance of Judah witli Assyria here is 2 Kings 2;}. 20. where Josiah takes the field against Pharaoh-necho of Egypt, probalily as ally of Assyria against Egypt. [G. V. Smith.] ViTRiNGA explains it that, Egypt in its calamities would remember that prophets of Jndali had foretold them, and so Judah would be "a terror unto Egypt." thereof—of Judah. It—Egypt. 18-23. SutTering shall lead to repentance. Struck witli "terror" and " afraid" (u. 17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (ch. 18.
7; 23. 18). Ave cities—t. e., several cities, as in ch. 17. 6; 30.
17; Genesis 43. .34; Leviticus 26.8. Rather, five definite cities of Lower Egypt {v. 11. 13; ch. 30. 4), which had close Intercourse with the neiglibouring Jewish cities [Maurer]; some say, Heliopolis, Leontopolis (else Diospolis), Migdol, Daphne (Tahpanes), and Memphis, language of Canaan i. e., of the Hebrews in Canaan, the language of revelation. Fig. for. They shall embrace the Jewish religion: so "a pure language" and conversion to God are connected in Zephaniah 3. 9; as also the first confounding and multiplication of languages was the punisliment of tlie making of gods at Babel, otlier than the One God. Pentecost (Acts 2. 4) was the counterpart of Babel : tlie separation of nations is not to hinder the unity of faith the full realization of tliis is .yet future (Zechariali 14.9; John 17. 21). The next clause, " swear to the Lord of Hosts," agrees with this view, i. e., bind themselves to Him by solemn covenant (ch. 45. 23; 65. 16; Deuteronomy
6.13). city of destruction—Onias; "city of the swn," i. i,. On, or Heliopolis; he persuaded Ptolemy Philometer (149 B.C.) to let him build a temple in the prefecture (nome) of Heliopolis, on the ground that it would induce Jews to reside tliere, and tliat tlie very site was foretold by Isaiah 600 years before. The reading of tlie Hebrew text is, however, better supported, "city of destruction ;" referring to Leontopolis, the site of Onias' temple: wliich casts a reproach on that city because it was about to contain a temple rivalling the only sanctioned temple, that at Jerusalem. Maurer, with some MSS., reads " city of defence.-' or "deliverance;" viz., Memphis, or some such city, m» 451